Strategy First Engagement

Stop guessing.
Build a marketing strategy
that actually works.

A complete 4-week marketing strategy engagement for growing businesses. You'll leave with a clear message, a documented plan, and a 90-day calendar your team can actually execute.

4 weeks
Start to full strategy
10+ deliverables
Ready to hand to your team
90-day calendar
Walk away ready to execute

Most businesses market without a strategy — and it costs them.

They post on social, run a few ads, try email once — and none of it connects because there's no foundation underneath it.

No clear core message

When your team, website, and social media all say something different, buyers can't figure out why they should choose you. Inconsistent messaging loses deals before conversations even start.

Marketing without a map

Every tactic feels like a shot in the dark. You're spending money on things that feel busy but aren't moving the needle — because there's no documented strategy tying any of it together.

Building on a shaky foundation

You can't scale what doesn't have structure. Without a real strategy underneath your marketing, growth is unpredictable, referrals are inconsistent, and you stay stuck in reactive mode.

A complete marketing strategy — built for how you actually work.

Strategy First isn't a template fill-in or a generic marketing plan. It's a research-backed, business-specific marketing strategy built through deep discovery and delivered in a working presentation your whole team can use.

Based on the Duct Tape Marketing methodology, every engagement covers your market positioning, customer journey, content strategy, and a prioritized 90-day execution plan.

  • Built around deep research into your market, customers, and competitors
  • Grounded in your actual business — not a generic framework plugged with your name
  • Delivered as a complete, actionable presentation your team can execute
  • Designed for businesses doing $500K–$10M+ who are ready to grow intentionally
Duct Tape Marketing

"Strategy before tactics" is the whole idea.

Most businesses jump straight to tactics — a new website, social ads, a rebrand. Strategy First flips that. We define your ideal customer, your core message, and your most effective channels before spending a dollar on execution.

That's how you stop wasting budget and start building a marketing system that compounds over time.

Start With Strategy →

Investment starts at $5,000

How Strategy First works.

Four focused weeks. Deep research, collaborative sessions, and a complete deliverable that's yours to keep — and execute.

Week 1

Discovery & Research

Intake form, discovery call, and deep research into your business, your customers, your competitors, and your industry — before a single recommendation is made.

Week 2

Audit & Analysis

We review your current marketing presence, messaging consistency, and channel performance — identifying what's working, what's not, and where the biggest opportunities live.

Week 3

Strategy Build

Core message, ideal personas, customer journey mapping, content strategy, and competitive positioning — all built together in a structured working presentation.

Week 4

Delivery & Execution Plan

Presentation walkthrough, 90-day execution calendar, and growth priorities. You leave with a complete plan and the clarity to execute it confidently.

Everything you need to market with clarity and confidence.

🎯

Core Message & Positioning

A clear, differentiated statement of who you serve, what you do, and why you're the obvious choice. Ready to be your homepage headline.

👥

Ideal Client Personas

2–4 detailed personas with motivations, pain points, buying behavior, and a priority ranking for where to focus first.

🗺️

Customer Journey Map

Full marketing hourglass — Know through Refer — with specific tactics and opportunities for each stage of the buyer journey.

📊

Competitive Analysis

Deep-dive on 3 competitors: what they're doing well, where they're weak, and exactly how you can take market share from each.

✍️

Content Strategy

3–5 content pillars, a recommended hub page strategy, brand voice guide, and 60+ topic ideas across blog, social, and email.

📅

90-Day Execution Calendar

A month-by-month plan with weekly focus, specific tasks per priority, and recurring items — ready to import into ClickUp or Asana.

🔍

Marketing & Brand Audit

SWOT analysis, channel assessment, trust and proof evaluation, and quick wins you can act on in the first two weeks.

📈

Strategy Framework

Long-term vision, phased 3-phase roadmap, and a set of competitive tactics grounded in your specific market position.

🚀

Growth Priorities (Top 5–6)

The highest-leverage initiatives for the next 90 days, each framed as a project with clear goals and recommended tactics.

One engagement. One price. Everything included.

Strategy First is a fixed-scope engagement — no hidden add-ons, no hourly billing. You get the complete deliverable for one investment.

$5,000
One-time fixed investment · 4-week engagement · Includes all deliverables
  • Full discovery call + intake process
  • Brand, competitor, and industry deep research
  • Complete Strategy First presentation (10 sections)
  • 90-day execution calendar
  • Presentation walkthrough session (90 min)
  • 30-day follow-up check-in call
  • Option to continue as a retainer client
Book Your Free Strategy Call →

Start with a free 30-minute call to see if Strategy First is the right fit. No commitment required.

Strategy First is built for specific businesses.

✅ You're a great fit if...

  • You're doing $500K–$10M+ and ready to scale intentionally
  • You know marketing matters but don't have a clear documented strategy
  • You're tired of tactics that don't connect to a bigger picture
  • You want to hand your team a real plan — not another deck full of ideas
  • You're a home service, local business, or professional services company
  • You're willing to invest 4 weeks to build something that lasts years

Not the right fit if...

  • You're looking for a done-for-you social media manager or content creator
  • You want a cheap one-page plan you can build yourself in an afternoon
  • You're not ready to spend time on discovery and input — strategy requires your participation
  • You're looking for a guaranteed lead count or instant ROI
  • You want someone to just handle execution without any strategic direction

Common questions.

How long does Strategy First take?+
The engagement runs 4 weeks from kick-off to delivery. Week 1 is discovery, week 2 is the audit, week 3 is strategy build, and week 4 is delivery and walkthrough.
What does my involvement look like?+
You'll complete an intake form (about 45–60 minutes), join a 60–90 minute discovery call, and attend a 90-minute delivery walkthrough. Total time commitment: roughly 4–5 hours over 4 weeks. The research and build work happens on our end.
What format is the deliverable?+
You'll receive a complete Google Slides presentation — typically 80–120 slides across 10 sections — along with a separate 90-day execution calendar formatted for ClickUp, Asana, or a spreadsheet.
Can I continue working together after Strategy First?+
Yes — and most clients do. After Strategy First, many businesses continue with a monthly retainer (starting at $3,000/month) where I act as their Fractional CMO to help execute the strategy, manage their marketing team, and keep the plan moving.
Is this for B2B or B2C businesses?+
Both. Strategy First works well for home service businesses, local service companies, professional services firms, and B2B businesses in the $500K–$10M range. If you're unsure if it's the right fit, book a free call and we'll figure that out together.
What if I already have a marketing person or agency?+
Strategy First is designed to work alongside your existing team. It gives them the strategy, positioning, and direction they likely don't have — so they can execute more effectively. Many clients share the Strategy First deck directly with their agency or social media manager.

Ready to build a marketing strategy that actually works?

Book a free 30-minute call. No pitch — just a real conversation about where you are and where you want to go.

Book Your Free Strategy Call →